India’s New Mapping Laws and other International GIS News

India's Remote Sensing Data Policy Year 2011 [pdf] gives access to high resolution satellite photos, to all public and private agencies who will use them for social development. Commercial use is also permitted, provided companies are cleared by a high powered committee.

The sense is that the new procedures make access easier. Another change: it seems organizations other than ISRO may be able to launch and manage imaging satellites. The new policy updates one from 2001.

Five days International Training Course on “Spatial Epidemiology” methods and application in Global positioning system (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) was recently ended at the ITC in Kerr Serign. The training was organised by the US department of Agriculture in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture, Animal Health and Production Services Department. The training brought together participants in different countries in the sub-region, who deal with animal health and production services.

Kaburo Kobia, Project Manager for Local Digital Content at Kenya ICT Board, says the data released on the portal includes the national census, geospatial information on health and education and statistics on government spending at national and county level, information that will empower citizens and promote a transparent and accountable at government level.